Research / Full-time
Research Scientist, Signal Detection
Investigate narrow-band signals of apparent celestial origin, from candidate identification through sky-position correlation and public catalog entry.
The program needs a researcher who can live between public sky data and private instrument records without letting either one overstate the other.
CV with publication, preprint, report, or observatory-service history
Two representative papers, reports, or public data products
Short statement on how you handle attractive but unsupported detections
Candidate exercise
A bounded candidate-review discussion using redacted public evidence and ordinary-source alternatives.
Research recruiting desk / FAL-CAS-26-009
Full-time exempt research appointment
Research appointment benefit tier
REC-CAS-26-009-RES
FAL-CAS-26-009-public-notice-02
July 3, 2026
Search committee
- 01Dr. Rahul Menon
- 02Research recruiting desk
- 03Scientific Review Committee delegate
Recruiting active file plus finalist review record
How this packet is evaluated
Research
Finalist review covers publication history, station-record access, and restricted-appendix handling before any archive exposure.
Complete packets are logged under REC-CAS-26-009-RES, separated from public correspondence, and assigned to the Research recruiting desk for first read.
Any exercise is bounded, redacted, and evaluated only for hiring. It is not added to the catalog, public systems, grant files, or laboratory work product.
| Criterion | Weight | Evidence reviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence discipline | 35% | Can hold unresolved detections without turning uncertainty into a claim. |
| Source rejection | 25% | Documents ordinary-source alternatives before advancing a candidate. |
| Public record judgment | 20% | Writes catalog language that remains precise under outside attention. |
| Program leadership | 20% | Improves review meetings, mentorship, and cross-program handoffs. |
- 01Reference check after candidate notice
- 02Station access and site-duty acknowledgement
- 03Records-handling and confidentiality review
- 04Program-office recommendation before offer
Candidate review docket REC-CAS-26-009-RES; public posting version FAL-CAS-26-009-public-notice-02.
Responsibilities
- Analyze narrow-band detections and distinguish sky-aligned sources from terrestrial interference
- Maintain and extend the sky-position correlation pipeline behind Night Watch
- Prepare candidate entries for review by the Persistent Signal Catalog
- Publish results in peer-reviewed literature and public technical notes
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in radio astronomy, physics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field
- Experience with weak-signal detection, interference rejection, and time-frequency analysis
- Comfort with long-baseline data and rare-event statistics
- Willingness to spend significant time at a remote field station
Preferred experience
- Experience with radio observatory operations or SETI candidate handling
- Familiarity with public data products and science communication
What good work looks like
- Night Watch records cite their source evidence without overstating certainty
- Candidate handoffs to the catalog include clean null-hypothesis work
- Researchers and public-data staff can reproduce your review trail
Three-year renewable research appointment
One calibration week per month during active review cycles
Occasional observatory, conference, and collaborator travel
Standard station access review required
Hiring process
- 1CV screen
- 2Technical interview
- 3Data exercise
- 4Station visit
- 5Final panel
Recruiting acknowledges complete packets within five business days and routes them to the program office named on the requisition.
Access, relocation, and accommodations
One calibration week per month during active review cycles
Relocation support is reviewed after finalist stage for continuing Calder Ridge appointments.
Candidates may request accommodation support through recruiting before any timed exercise or station visit.
Research recruiting desk, FAL-CAS-26-009
- Recruiting will not request references until the candidate is notified.
- Finalist access checks are started only after a program panel recommends continued review.
- Candidate materials are retained under the recruiting records schedule and are not used as public work product.
Candidate materials remain in the recruiting record and are not used as laboratory work product, public samples, or source material for the catalog.
Candidates may request accommodations before any timed exercise, station visit, or access-review step by contacting the recruiting desk listed on the requisition.
FAL evaluates candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other protected status.
Apply for this position
Applications are read by the relevant program. Include links to your CV, publications, or portfolio where relevant. For station roles, use the message field to note any field, access-controlled, archive, or remote-site experience that would help the review panel.